Bob Rae to head First Nations board for B.C. pipeline

Former Liberal MP Bob Rae is the new chairman of the board ofa British Columbia-based partnership of 15 First Nations that is preparing to implement a major pipeline deal.

Rae, who served as interim leader for the Liberals until Justin Trudeau was elected, will head the board of directors of FN (PTP) Group Limited Partnership, also known as FNLP.

Earlier this year, the group signed acommercial agreement worth $200 millionwith the Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership, the pipeline component of the proposed Kitimat LNG Project that would transport liquified natural gas to a terminal on the B.C. coast. The 15 First Nations in the partnership are along the proposed pipeline route between Summit Lake and Kitimat, B.C.

"Bob Rae has a proven track record of genuine concern for First Nations and the advancement of their interests," Chief Ray Morris, a member of the FNLP executive committee, said in anews release."We are fortunate that he has chosen to offer his experience, network, judgment and diplomatic skills to FNLP as one of British Columbia's most important LNG projects continues to move forward."

Rae 'honoured' by appointment

The appointment adds to Rae's growing list of activities since heleft the House of Commonslast month. He stepped down, he said,because of his commitment torepresent the Matawa Tribal Councilin negotiations to develop theresource-rich Ring of Fire region 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, Ont.

The former Ontario premier isalso teachingat the University of Toronto.

"I am honoured to have been asked to assist in this process,"Rae said in the news release."FNLP is an innovative model for how industry, governments and First Nations can cooperate effectively with respect to major economic development projects."

Raealsosaidthat "the successful implementation of the commercial agreement between First Nations, the PTP LP and British Columbia will be critical to the project moving forward successfully, which is important for the economy of the whole country."